Metal Complexes Produced by Maillard Reaction Products

Abstract

A method is disclosed for the formation of metal chelates which are able to remain stable in high alkaline environments when compared to metal chelates produced from a reaction with amino acids. The method involves the reaction of sugars, amino groups, and metal components for a sufficient period of time and temperature in a water solution. Additionally, the stability of metal chelates can be enhanced by oxidation of the sugars with an oxidizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide which form an MRP which will react with the metal component to form a more stable metal chelate than if oxidation were not utilized.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional application bearing Ser. No. 60 / 457,802 filed Mar. 26, 2003 which claims the benefit of provisional application bearing Ser. No. 60 / 425,777 filed Nov. 13, 2002.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0002] Metals chelated by organic ligands are used as an important trace mineral source for humans and animals. Certain metal ions are especially known to be beneficial in stimulating plant growth leading to the production of larger, healthier plants, and increased production of fruits or vegetables. It has become generally accepted that the chelated forms of metals using organic acids are better assimilated by plants, animals, and human beings than are metal salts. Plant, animal and human tissue samples indicate increased metal content when exposed to metal organic acid chelates. [0003] Metal chelates have been produced in the prior art from the reaction of a metal ion (usually in the form of soluble meta...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023] My process utilizes the principles described in the MR discussed earlier. However, an oxidation step is included to enhance the yield of carbonyl groups in the sugar molecules which then are capable of reacting with the amino acids present leading to an alternative form of MRP. This alternative form of MRP has the characteristic of being capable of forming a more stable metal chelate when reacted with a metal component.

[0027] My invention makes possible an effective and inexpensive product for delivering metals such as iron in solution to plants existing in high alkaline environments.

Problems solved by technology

Although metal chelates formed by the reaction of free metal ions and chelating agents such as amino acids or EDTA are relatively inexpensive to produce, the one significant drawback to metal chelates formed by this process is that the metal chelate typically hydrolyzes at a pH≦11.

Therefore, these metal chelates are not stable in strong alkaline environments.